Mark 10:13 to 10:16 Jesus loves little children, welcomes them with open arms, and blesses them. Hear how Jesus welcomed the children when others told them to go away. Discover what Jesus said: "Let the children come to me." Know with certainty that Jesus loves you personally and welcomes you into His kingdom. Parents in ancient Judea loved bringing their little children to respected teachers and rabbis so they could lay hands on them and pray for them. Don't Bother the Teacher! Moms and dads were walking down the road bringing their babies and little boys and girls to Jesus. They wanted Jesus to touch them and pray for them. But the disciples frowned and said: "Stop! Take the children away! Jesus is too busy and important to spend time with little kids." Let the Little Children Come When Jesus saw what his disciples were doing, he was deeply upset. He said firmly: "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God! Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." Held in His Loving Arms Jesus did not just wave from far away. Mark 10:16 says he took the children up in his arms, laid his gentle hands on their heads, and blessed them! Jesus showed the whole world that children are precious, treasured, and deeply loved in God's kingdom. Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14 What did the disciples do when parents brought children to Jesus? They told them to go away and stopped them They gave the children candy They sang songs together They built a playground They told them to go away and stopped them Mark 10:13 tells us the disciples rebuked those who brought them. What did Jesus say when he saw the disciples stopping the children? Let the children come to me; do not hinder them Tell them to come back next year Children are too noisy I only teach grown-ups Let the children come to me; do not hinder them Mark 10:14 records Jesus' loving command: "Let the children come to me." What did Jesus do with the little children in Mark 10:16? He took them in his arms and blessed them He sent them to school He asked them to pay coins He told them to run home He took them in his arms and blessed them Mark 10:16 says: "And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them." Give someone in your family a warm hug today and say: "Jesus loves you and Jesus loves me!" Loving Jesus, thank you that you love children and open your arms to welcome me. Thank you that I am never too small or too young to belong to your kingdom. Hold me close in your love and help me to follow you every day. In your sweet name, Amen. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus opened his arms and held children just like you? What does it mean to trust Jesus like a little child? Children conclude Term 2 discovering that Jesus warmly welcomes and blesses children, assuring them of their special place in God's kingdom. Open your arms wide in a warm welcome gesture. Ask the children what it feels like when someone welcomes them with open arms! That is exactly what Jesus did. Why did the disciples try to stop the kids? The disciples thought Jesus was too busy with grown-up problems, but Jesus showed that children are just as important to God as adults! 5 min Hook & Welcome Game, 10 min Story, 8 min Memory Verse Tiles, 7 min Term 2 Wrap-up Quiz